Learning from Sea Cucumbers

Posted by Douglas DuHamel Jun 7, 2008

After being studied time and time again, scientists have made a startling discover with the humble sea cucumber. This one leads towards medical technologies.

One such development is a new plastic material that mimics a sea cucumber’s ability to quickly change the density of its skin as a defense mechanism. When dry, the plastic is very hard and stiff. When it gets wet, it softens and becomes bendable and is very capable of switching back and force very rapidly. Inspired by the chemical make up of the sea cucumbers skin, the material is composed of a rubber-like base with fibers of cellulose attached to one another by hydrogen bonds which create a rigid surface when dry.

When water is added to the system, the hydrogen bonds are broken and the material becomes flexible. When allowed to dry out again, the hydrogen bonds quickly re-form making the surface hard again. One of the possible uses for this new plastic could be for brain implants during brain operations.

It could also be used to treat Parkinson's disease or even spinal injuries or even some parts of heart implants like pacemakers. They have already found a gene in the sea cucumber that blocks the parasites that cause malaria.

As scientists continue to examine the sea cucumber, they just keep finding new uses.